Sexual harassment case: Pachauri moves Delhi HC seeking permission to travel abroad

New Delhi, Apr 22: Days after a court refused to hear his plea, TERI Director General R K Pachauri, who is facing sexual harassment allegations from a woman employee, today moved Delhi High Court seeking permission to travel abroad for next week's Global Water Summit in Greece.

Justice Sunil Gaur sought responses from the complainant and the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case.

"Issue notice to the complainant and the IO of the case. Further IO is directed to file status report of the case by tomorrow," the bench said.

Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan appearing for Pachauri sought permission from the court saying that his client is a nobel laureate and an expert in environment protection and has to deliver a key note address at the Summit on April 27-28 at Athens in Greece.

Pachauri in his plea had sought permission permission to travel abroad from April 26 to April 29. He said that Sessions Court had directed his client to approach Mahila Court for seeking permission to travel abroad but due to the lawyers two days strike in lower courts, the matter could not be taken up today and even tomorrow.

The bench then asked the IO abou the status of the investigation in the case. Additional standing counsel Sanjeev Bhandari said that the accused has been granted anticipatory bail in the case and Mahila court judge today asked the accused to file his written submissions.

Bhandari opposed Pachauri's contention and said that he is "misleading" the court and has not brought the fact that the matter was heard today in the lower court.

"Its not the case that he has not been heard. Moreover, permission is being sought from the competent authority for challenging the anticipatory bail granted to the accused" he said.

PTI